Re: How Internet dependent has Windows become?
"It seems to me that Windows has become an OS that cannot be installed on a PC unless it has Internet access at the time of install - because half the OS must be downloaded and is not present on any installation media, and it requires the installer/user to enter an online account."
It seems you are wrong. The Windows 10 install works just fine with no internet access - and no online account will be required for the RTM version.